The Luftwaffe's Last Hope
As the situation became more desperate for the German forces near the end of WWII, a call was made for a new inexpensive jet fighter that would be simple to produce and fly. In the amazingly short span of 3 months from drawing board to first flight of the prototype, Heinkel produced the small, sporty-looking He162. The lightweight fighter featured mainly wooden construction and was powered by a BMW003 turbojet, which made it the fastest jet fighter of WWII with its 838km/h top speed. Reaching combat units in late March 1945, it managed to record some successes despite the acute fuel and parts shortage.